Burial receptacle for ashes



July 30, 1935. E, A. BIRCHER 2,009,724

BURIAL RECEPTACLE FOR ASHES Filed April 26, 1934 HH IVVIVII [1w-n @nl 7L l /NLMN Patented July 30, 1935 UNITEDl STil'l'fES` GFFICE y '2,009,724'V BURIAL RCEPTACLE FOR AsHEs`V Eugene A Bircher, Rochester, N.' Y; i Application April 2.6, 1934,sena1Nb. 722,553

' s claims. (erst-1) The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved form of receptacle for the ashes of a body after cremation. .l

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for the ashes of a `body after cremation, which hask theappearance of a book and can be attractively displayed behind glassplates on shelves provided for that purpose. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for the ashes of a body, that is formed in two halves that are capable of being permanently locked together after the placement of ashes therein. K

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawing, described in the speciiication and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a number of receptacles displayed on shelves. l

Figure 2 is a sectionfthrough the shelves'on the line 2st-2m of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the complete re-f ceptacle. f

Figure 4 is a plan view of one-half of the receptacle as viewed from the inside, it being understood that both halves are substantiallyY alike. Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line Sar-5x of Figure 4, showing thecomplete receptacle.

Figure 6 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the steel liners used to lock the two halves of the receptacle together.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of one of the steel liners.

In the drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing reference numeral I indicates receptacle that is preferably made of metal and is cast in a shape that has the external appearance of a book. The receptacle I is composed of two halves 2 and 3 that are divided along the line 4. Each of these halves are hollow and are cast in duplicate and one of these halves is shown in a plan View in Figure 4 as viewed from the inside. Each half of the receptacle has four upright walls 5, 6, 'I and 8 that are formed with a draft that will enable the half of the receptacle to be drawn out of the mold. The walls 6, 1 and 8 of each half of the receptacle are grooved as is indicated at 9. The grooves in the top wall 6 and bottom wall 8 are adapted to receive short liners I0 and Il, while the wall 'I is adapted to receive a long liner I2. Each of the liners IIJ, I I and I2 are knurled to form a series of teeth I3 on each side of the liner that extends the full length of each ofthe liners.- Y f As shown in Figure 6, the slant of the teeth at the bottomvof the-liner runs in-an oppositer direction to the slant ofthe teeth atl the top of 5 the' liner,V The linersare forced or driven tov the bottom of the grooves on cnehalf of the receptacle 3, which causes the upper ends of the liners to extend above the edges of the walls. After theashes have been placed in the receptacle,` the; grooves in the other half` offthe receptacle 2 are then brought into line with 'the liners already in place in one half of the receptacle 3, and the otherv half of the receptacle 2 is then forced downward,` causing the upper half l cil the liners to engage in the grooves in the other half of the receptacle 2 until the edges of the. walls ofeachhalf o f -the receptacle abut each other. ,s Y Y- Y The teeth I3 on the liners will engage the sides of the grooves, and while the liners can be forced into thegrooves with comparative ease, itis very diflicult to remove the liners from' the grooves. The liners will positively hold the` two halves of the receptacle together to forma complete receptacle that has the appearance of a book.

The wall 5, which is shaped to form the back of a book, is formed with a recess intermediate the top and bottom of the receptacle, into vwhich can be inserted ,a name plate I4 bearing a suitable legend thereon by which the ashes in ythe receptacle may be identified. The name plate I4 is made as an eleotrotype, or copper plate, and is rst made dat and then bent to conform with the back of the receptacle. The ends of the plate I4 areV bent inwardly and are adapted to engage in the grooves I5 and I6 in the two halves of the receptacle Zand 3, holding the side in which there is no liner together.

After the body has been cremated, the ashes are collected and placed in a paper box II covered by a telesooping cover I8. The paper box is then placed in one half of the receptacle 3 that already has the liners in place in the grooves. The other half of the container 2 is then forcedV down on the rst named half of the receptacle 3, locking the complete receptacle on three sides. The complete receptacle I is then sand blasted and suitably plated to hide the line that divides the two halves of the receptacle. The name plate I4 is then put in place on the receptacle, as previously described, to lock the receptacle on the remaining side.

After the completed receptacle is thoroughly locked, the receptacle is ready for storage and display, and the receptacles may then be placed on a series of marble shelvesZI that has a plate of glass 22 in the front thereof.

'Ihe sides of the receptacle can be embellished with any design, such as is shown in Figure 1, that is ornamental, useful or instructive. Each of the sides of the receptacle have ornamental grooves 20 cast therein near the back that are adapted to simulate the appearance of a corresponding part of the binding of a. book. The grooves I5 and I6 formed on thesides of the two halves of the receptacle intermediate of the top and bottom are deeper than the ornamental grooves 20, which extend to the top and bottom and serve a useful purpose. The grooves I5 and I 6 are formed adjacent to the ornamental grooves 20, so that when the name plate I4 is placed in the grooves I5 and I6, the turned-in edges of it fill the extra depth of the grooves so that the ornamental grooves have the appearance of being continuous and do not seem to be interrupted by the name plate I4 I claim: g

1. A receptacle for ashes after cremation comprising two parts having abutting edges, `each of said edges being grooved lengthwise thereof to receive a sealing strip therein, a sealing strip in said grooves, said sealing strip having longitudinallyextending backward-projecting teeth thereon that are adapted to engage the sides of said grooves to positively hold and seal the two parts of said receptacle together.

2. A receptacle for ashes after cremation comprising a hollow box shaped on the outside to resemble a book, said receptacle being divided into two substantially equal parts having abutting edges, three of the edges on each half of said receptacle being grooved longitudinally thereof to receive a sealing strip having teeth thereon contained in said grooves and joining the two halves together on three edges thereof, the outside of said receptacle having a fourth edge or back and flanges along the edges of two sides thereof giving it the appearance of a book, said parts having grooves on either side of said fourth edge or back, a plate extending across the back of said receptacle, said plate being adapted to engage said grooves to secure the parts of the receptacle on the back side thereof. Y

3. A receptacle for ashes after cremation comprising a hollow box shaped on the outside to resemble a book, said receptacle being divided into' two substantially equal parts having abutting edges, three of the edges on each half of said receptacle being grooved longitudinally thereof to receive a sealing strip, a sealing strip having teeth thereon contained in said grooves and joining the two halves together on three edges thereof, the outside of said receptacle having a fourth edge or back and flanges along the edges of two sides thereof, giving it the appearance of a book, the fourth edge or back of said receptacle having a recess extending transversely therein, said receptacle having grooves on either side of said back, a plate in said recess extending across the back of said receptacle, said plate being adapted to engage said grooves and secure the parts of the receptacle on the back side thereof.

' 4. A receptacle for ashes after cremation comprising two parts each having four abutting edges, three of the abutting edges on each part of said receptacle being grooved to receive a sealing .strip therein, a sealing strip in said grooves having teeth thereon adapted to join the two parts of said receptacle together along three abutting edges thereof, the other abutting edge of each part of said receptacle being secured together by a plate extending transversely across the abutting edges said plate having a C section, the opposite edges of which seat in grooves on opposite faces of the two parts of the'receptacle to secure the parts ofV the receptacle together along the fourth abutting edges.

5. A receptacle for ashes after cremation comprising two shallow parts having abutting edges, means on said abutting edges and longitudinal with respect thereto for permanently sealing the two parts of said receptacle together along the abutting edges, and means bridging the abutting edges on one side of the receptacle, grooves adjacent said side in opposite faces of the receptacle, said means being clipped in said grooves.

6'. A receptacle for ashes after cremation comprising two shallow parts having abutting edges, a. plate on one side extending transversely across an abutting edge, said plate having a C section, groovesin opposite faces of the two parts of the receptacle, the opposite edges thereof being adapted to 'seat in said grooves to secure the parts together.

f EUGENE A. BIRCHER. 

